Test steps often rely on data parameters, such as menu item names, user names, or numeric values. You can hard-code these values, or parameterize your test cases with different variable values.

• How can I parameterize my test data?
• When to choose which option?
• How to Insert Test Data into tests?
• How to Manage Data Parameters?
• How to Manage Data Models?

How can I parameterize my test data?

If you choose to parameterize your tests, you have the following options:

• Load Test Data from Spreadsheets, 
• Generate Synthetic Test Data,
• Find Test Data from TDM Database Models,

or any combination of these data sources.

When to choose which option?

• If your test data is a list of fixed values, or has dependencies between columns, the best solution is to collect this data in spreadsheet columns and attach the CSV file to the test. 
  
  
• If you need dynamic test data, generate it synthetically. Generated test data looks like real or random data, but you have full control over its form, and you don't have to collect it yourself. You generate data using Test Data Generator Functions.
  • Synthetic test data is advantageous in tests where you need dynamic parameter values, such as relative date stamps ("today" or "last month"), fake but valid credit card numbers, random but plausible names, and so on.
  • BlazeMeter additionally helps you avoid invalid values: The included functions don't generate dates such as February 31, names such as asdf%as'df, nor credit card numbers with invalid checksums. 
    
    
• If you use the TDM product and its Find & Reserve feature, BlazeMeter offers TDM integration to access your TDM data models to load test data from multiple sources.

How to Insert Test Data into tests?

Note: If you are using the GUI Functional Test debugger, click Stop to close the debugger before defining new test data.

1. Open a Test and go to the Configuration tab.
2. Click Test Data.
   A panel with data models opens on the right side.
3. Click the Plus sign and create a parameter.
   To initialize the parameter, choose one of the following procedures:
   • Generate Synthetic Test Data
   • Load Test Data from Spreadsheets
   • Find Test Data from TDM Database Models
     You have now defined a parameter value.
4. Click Copy Parameter Name to Clipboard. 
   The clipboard now contains a string such as ${address}.
   
5. Return to the test configuration and edit the appropriate test step. For a GUI Functional test, edit a test step in the Scriptless Editor. For a performance test, edit a HTTP Request field in JMeter.
6. Replace a hard-coded value with the pasted parameter. 
   Example: In a GUI Functional Test, paste the parameter as a value into a test action.
   

When you run the test now, BlazeMeter generates test data for the parameter based on your chosen data model, and replaces parameter values in the test definition with generated values.

How to Manage Data Parameters?

Parameter names have to be unique across all Data Models. If two parameters have the same name, one will override the other in an arbitrary order. Therefore, after uploading files, review the loaded parameter names in the Test Data panel, and rename them there if needed.

In the Test Data panel, hover the mouse over a parameter definition to show the editor buttons.

The four buttons have the following functionalities, from left to right:

• Copy Parameter Name to Clipboard so you can paste it easily into the test definition.
• Preview one instance of generated data. Click again to toggle back to the function view.
• Edit this parameter definition to change the parameter name, the function, or its arguments.
• Delete this parameter. If the deleted parameter is in use in a scenario step, the step will break.

How to Manage Data Models?

GUI Functional tests support one data model only. Performance tests support multiple data models. 

• To add a data model to a performance test, click Test Data … > Add Data Model > Create New. Give the data model a descriptive, unique name.
  
  
• To control how many rows of data are used, configure iteration settings.

• To share a data model with your team, use the Ellipsis menu next to the model's name and select ... > Save to Workspace or Load From Workspace. To make backups, use ... > Export to File and Import From File. For more information, see How to Share Test Data.
• To view or delete saved data models, click Test Data … > Data Models > Manage. Here you can delete data models from all tests -- verify whether they are unused before deleting them. If no team members have saved any data models to the Workspace, this window is empty.

For each data model, use the Ellipsis menu next to its name to manage it:

• Here you can Rename or Remove data models.
• You can also Download Data As CSV to export it as a spreadsheet and import it, for example, into MS Excel.

Hover the mouse over a CSV file entity in the data model to access the following buttons:

• Download CSV
• Edit CSV
• Delete CSV